Pacheco has new B1G, ACC interests

Isaih Pacheco started a recruiting surge for Rutgers in June, but what was his recruitment like shortly before that? A month earlier, he spoke with Garrett Stepien about where things stood at the NY/NJ Nike Opening Regional. This photo originally appeared on Scout.com.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — With new offers and interests from the ACC and B1G, how does three-star Isaih Pacheco plan to approach his recruitment into the summer?

While Isaih Pacheco had his spring focus set on baseball as varsity outfielder for Vineland (N.J.) High, football never faded.

Pacheco, a three-star prospect and the No. 9 running back in the East, reeled in recent offers from Louisville and Iowa before he competed at The Opening Regional in New Jersey.

“It’s been going great, actually,” Pacheco said of his spring recruitment. “Right now, I’m playing baseball, so I haven’t been able to make too much visits. But schools are starting to come in our school to check us out, so we’ve got a lot of interest.”

Pacheco said Ohio State, Iowa and Minnesota recently visited Vineland. He added that he hears from the Hawkeyes plenty since they offered, and his contact with the Buckeyes only continues to grow.

“Iowa’s one, I hear from them a lot,” Pacheco said. “I hear from Ohio State a lot, too. And Clemson, too, I communicate with the running backs coach (Tony Elliot) from there.”

Coaches from Ohio State and Clemson want to get Pacheco to camp, he said.

“(Ohio State and Clemson) want to get me down to the campus,” Pacheco said. “They’re going to come down to the school. Ohio State already came down to the school. Clemson should be down, some time this week, soon.”

Pacheco’s recruitment blossomed after regional offers from Rutgers, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Maryland and Boston College put him on the map.

He remains in constant communication with the Scarlet Knights since they offered him in December. Pacheco connected with new running backs coach Lester Erb.

“It’s been great,” Pacheco said of his Rutgers recruitment. “Actually, they were down there this past week. It was this past week they were down there, so they had some good things.

“(Erb is) a good guy actually. If you ask most of the players that’s on Rutgers — because you know you can communicate with the players, just get there and ask the guys, ‘How do you feel about the coach?’ A lot of people have got some good things to say about him, so I think that’s good.”

As the summer approaches, Pacheco plans to eventually evaluate all of his options. However, he is in no rush to ponder a decision date.

“I’m not too sure yet (about a decision timeline),” Pacheco said. “Me and my parents, we’ve been talking about it. I’ve got to get down, see the place and talk to my parents more about it. It’s a bit of a process, but it’s going to happen more sooner than later.”

Wherever the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Pacheco lands, he knows what he is looking for in a school.

“I want to be able to make it to the next level,” Pacheco said. “I know a lot of schools make it to the next level. (Other factors are) what’s best for me and my family, what I think my education would be great and the environment, and just the distance.”